Housing and light diffuser for fluorescent fixtures



March 27, 1951 E. T. KOPPANG ET AL 2,545,190

HOUSING AND LIGHT DIFFUSER FOR FLUORESCENT FIXTURES Filed June 21, 1946 HVVENTORJ EARL T. KOPPANG HENRY WING. KINTZINGER W WW A T TORNEKS- Patented Mar. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE;

HOUSINGAND LIGHT DIFFUSER FOR FLUORESCENT FIXTURE S Earl .T;. Koppang and HenrypWing Kintzi-nger Minneapolis Minnr This--invention relatesto lighting fixtures of the type employing fluorescent, luminescent or cold cathode-lighting-elements and particularly relates to an ornamental housing and light diffuser; manufactured and shipped in collapsed, compact form and adapted to be readily assembled to -surround and improve the appearance of installed, ol'dtype fixtures and to efiiciently-difi'use thelight produced thereby.

At the'present time, many thousands ofli'ghting fixtures of the general fluorescent type have been: installed fora period of years at relatively high installation costar-1d are more or 4 less old type in "appearance; design and efliciency of light directionand diffusion. Such units are-ordinarily ofcertain standdrddlengths and width and some are suspended from the ceiling-by hanger stemswhile-some are attached to hanger brackets with the tops thereofdisposed inslightly spaced relation from the ceiling. The replacement cost of such fixtures tomodernizezthesame and obtain proper. light diffusion: is quite substantial a1- though-the. light elements: or tubes of the old unitssare identicalwith those used in-unit's of modern: manufacture andliin most instances, give adequate candlepower tor the 4 purposes intended.

It is .xanobjectaof. our xzinvention to provide a comparatively .inexpensiveand quickly assembled ornamental; housing which. may bel' readily installed over and. supportedm by; installed 1 fixturesu-now :in use and which? will beautify and modernize the old1fixtureand. in.additicn, produce arnhighly .eifi'cient directionsand diffusion of the light rayszproduced;-

Atjurther objectiistheprovisionrof an ornamental housing andiiight diffuser ofthe type de- :scribed. whiclr when. manufactured in. comparatively few. sizes and designs; will havesubstantial universal applicationttov OldxfiXtllIBS now'in use.

A further object; iscthe'zprovision of structure.

of the class described which is: adapted to. besvery quickly and. easilyyassembledi and. installed. by an unskilled;.oper.ator and .which. is of. such structure thattheparts thereof may becollapsedand very L compactlypackagedior shipment.

Another object. is the-provision of an economical unitpof; theclassdescribed which;v when installed 1 upon'anobsolete fixture,,wi1l:'give. the appearance I ofaamodernistiaexpensive new fixture with. functional..- advantages and. :light diffusion :equal. r to thqseuofz theifinest fluorescent fixtures. manufacturedatithistime;

Tneseandothercobjects:and-advantages of our invention-will. :be imore apparent :from. the; following description made in-s.connection .:-with;:the.;

. tachable anchoring means for ficonnectiomwith the. end walls of; the housing;

Fig. 5 is a. SldBIHB-I'BVatlOII of a somewhat .different. form. of our invention wherein: in place of light diffusing louvers; transluscent plates are utilized at the bottom of the housing as well-asin the side walls thereof;

Fig. 6 isa crosssection taken .onthe dine ,6'6 of Fig. 5; and.

Fig.7 is adetail;vertical-section taken longitudinally throughiaxsomewhat difierent form of the invention, utilizing amore simplified andlless expensive .type of anchoring; vmeans between the stringer rods :and: end; walls of the housing;

InrFig. 1,. ans-embodiment. .of-sour inventiontis shown; operatively' applied to :a: common type of fluorescent fixturelF having end plates, interconnected by suitable means .and carryingtthe detachable fluorescent elementsE, said fixtures .be- .ing suspended some distance'belownthe: ceiling by hanger stems. S".

In Fig. 2, a somewhatdifferent' type: OfnfiUQ- rescent fixture F!" is; shown having threestriangularlyarranged fluorescent elements; E mountedbetweenthe ends thereof.

Thesaidrfixtures F and F"are-bothf of common types. and have no eificientmeans for iightingdirection or diffusion;

The embodiment ofifoun :invention as illustrated in Figs. 1. to 3- comprises: a pairof' independent, ornamental end walls; I 0 constructed preferably of polished',.sheet material. such as aluminum or an aluminum-alloy and of i adequate area to more: than cover the ends ofi installed electrical fixtures on: which our structure is to -be mounted. The endv wallsiln imay be of' general inverted trapezoid shape having inturned, oppositelyand symmetrically inclined side flanges-Illa which assista'in the support .of thee transluscent -side walled l andhaving asushown; 8,11% inturnect' bottom flange, :l flb-iforasupportrand mounting ofth'e- 3 light diffusion louver or grill [2. End walls are each provided at each of the sides thereof with a pair of vertically spaced rod-securing apertures adjacent the marginal edges thereof in which rod-connector elements such as the screws [3, are received for securing the longitudinal tie or stringer rods M which inter-connect, reinforce and in most installations, support the entire ornamental housing structure and which further, act as guides and retainers for the inclined, longitudinal transluscent side walls ll.

The structure, as manufactured and shipped, is knocked down with the end walls In superimposed with compact relation with the rods and louver elements collapsed in a compact package. As shown, in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the tie rods H! are made in appropriate lengths for accommodating our housing to the lengths of standard fluorescent lighting units and are threaded at their outer ends Ma. for adjustable clamping engagement with an internally threaded, elongated collar l5. One of said collars I5 is pro- .vided for each end of the rods l4 and has an out-turned annular flange |5a for abutment against the end wall If) of the housing. The headed clamping screw i3 previously referred to, threadedly engages the interior of collar I5 and as clearly shown in Fig. 4, adjustably clamps the tWo end walls I0 to the tie rods, the tension .of the rods 14 bein adjusted through the ;threaded elements. Additional tie rods l6 may if desired, be provided at the medial and upper edges of the end walls 10, serving to additionally reinforce the housing structure and to also act, if desired, as a supporting medium as shown in Fig. 2 for ..resting upon the top of the fixtures F and F although it will of course, be understood that these rods may be dispensed with in most of the embodiments of our invention.

The translucent, longitudinal side walls ll of the housing are merely slipped in between the -side tie rods [4 and the inturned side flanges [0a cof the end walls and may be inserted from below ;by sliding the walls II upwardly between the rods l4 and the end walls and thereafter, mov- .,-ing the same slightly outwardly to engage the glower edges. thereof, with upturned .retaining .flngers Illc provided by extended lugs or strips "from the end walls. Side walls H may be made -of glass, plastic or other transparent or translucent material for transmitting and/or difiusing light rays. The grill structure [2 may be made up in conventional manner from twoseries of crossed, intersecting light metal strips, each having interengaging, transversely spaced slotsand this structure may be shipped in col- H lapsed, compact manner and thereafter as- .sembled to form the louver or grill. It is essential that the strips of the louver be disposed vertically to block off and diffuse light rays emanating from the elements E. The louver structure as shown, is supported at the ends of its longitudinal strips upon the inturned flanges lb of the endwalls l9 and may also have con- ;nection with said end walls through diminished, notched lugs [211 at the extremities of said longitudinal strips which interfit with slotted portions of the end walls, as clearly shown in Figs.

1 and 3.

Our ornamental housing, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, may be supported from the instances, the auxiliary tie rod I6 may longitudinally traverse the old lighting fixture to support our entire housing structure. In most frequent instances, we supply hanger straps H which have horizontal, medial portions and downwardly inclined ends, the medial portions.

. overlying and traversing the lighting tubes or stalled, old lighting fixture in a number of difother structure of the installed fixture and the declined ends of the hanger straps being upturned at their extremities to underlie and support, as shown in Fig. 2, the upper tie rods Id.

In the case of installed fixtures which are mounted substantially flush against the ceiling, provision is made for support of the housing by suitable meanssuch as inturned, upper flanges llld integrally formed with the upper ends of the end wall sections H said flanges overlying the end blocks or'members of the installed flxture and being disposed between the same and the ceiling to which the fixture is suspended.

With our improved structure, it will be noted that the entirety of the old fixture with the exception of its hanger stems, is concealed and covered by our ornamental housing. It will further be noted that the translucent, longitudinal side walls ll of our structure emit and diffuse horizontally projected or slightly downwardly projected light rays. It will further be seen that the louver structure [2 effects efficient direction and diffusion of the downwardly directed light rays from elements E.

The reconditioned old fixture thus, with our improved housing presents a highly ornamental, modernistic appearance equal that of expensive, modern fluorescent nxtures now extensively used.

Our structure may be readily dusted and cleaned and the louver construction easily removed from the end walls for cleaning by disengaging the retaining ends l2a when the opposite end of the louver structure is slightly raised above its supporting flange 10b.

In Figs. 5 and 6 we have shown a somewhat different embodiment of our invention which dispenses with the use of a louver structure and substitutes therefor for light diffusion of downwardly directed rays, a pair of relatively thick translucent, flat lenses or plates 20, detachably supported at the bottom of our housing. To this end, the end walls ll] of the second form have inturned lens-supporting flanges lilb substantially identical with the flanges of the form first described, upon which the outer, transverse edges of the respective lens plates rest and are supported. At the medial portion of the lower tie rods [4, small hanger brackets 2| are supplied, having supported therefrom a transverse T rail 22 which is positioned fixedly in the center of the bottom portion of the housing. The inner ends of the lens plates 20 rest upon and are detachably supported from the horizontal webs of the T rail, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

The variable supporting means for this form of the invention, the longitudinal side walls II and other features of the construction are identical with the form first described and need not therefore, be herein described in detail.

In Fig. '7, we illustrate simplified and less expensive form of tie rod and connector, the tie rod being indicated by the numeral 24 and having its extremities upturned at right angles to form attachment studs 24a. These attachment studs are detachably connected with and support small sleeves 25 which are spot welded or otherwise aflixed to the inner sides of the end walls III at appropriate points. T f

This structure, of course, eliminates the need for the several threaded elements I3, Ma and I5, comprising the clamping structure illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, but it of course, does not have the improved feature of being able to variably tension the tie connection between the end Walls.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that we have provided a simple, inexpensive but highly eflicient ornamental housing and light diffuser for various types of fluorescent, luminescent and cold cathode lighting fixtures to convert such fixtures to effective light diffusers of modernistic and highly ornamental design.

It will of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts without departing from the scope of our invention.

The terms lighting fixtures of the fluorescent type as used in the claims of this application, are intended to include lighting fixtures of the various types which utilize tubular or elongated lighting elements such as fluorescent, luminescent, cold cathode or neon lighting fixtures.

What we claim is:

1. An ornamental housing and light difiuser for concealing and converting installed lighting fixtures of the fluorescent type comprising a pair of widely spaced, substantially rigid and substantially vertical end walls, said end walls having a substantial area adapted to more than cover and conceal the outer surfaces of the entire end portions of an installed fixture and light diffusers contained therein, longitudinal reinforcing connections between said pair of said end walls, said connections being arranged in two side series adjacent the outer marginal portions of said end Walls to leave a large, unobstructed space between said end walls, certain of said reinforcing connections being disposed at the top of the body formed and serving in the dual capacity of connections and hanger supports for said body and adapted to engage top portions of the installed lighting fixture, said end walls having adjacent their lower edges at the sides thereof side wallsupporting elements and a pair of side walls of substantially the height of said end walls, supported at their lower edges upon said supporting elements and cooperating with said end walls to form a box-like housing for completely covering and concealing the end portions, tubes and light diffusers as well as the sides of an installed lighting fixture, said side walls being spaced apart adequate distances to be disposed in spaced relation to side portions of the installed fixture when said body is supported from the top thereof by said top reinforcing elements.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 and transverse, spanning hanger members secured to the upper longitudinal reinforcing members and extending transversely thereof for cooperating therewith to engage the top portion of an installed fixture for supporting the body formed by said end walls, said side walls and the interconnected structure.

3. An ornamental housing and light diifuser for concealing and converting installed lighting fixtures of the fluorescent type comprising a pair of widely spaced substantially vertical end walls, a plurality of horizontally extending tie rods, detachably connected at their outer ends with said end walls and arranged to be disposed 1on- 6 gitudinally of and at the sides of an installed lighting fixture, detachable side walls extending between said end walls, means at the lower portions of said end walls for supporting said side walls, a light diffusing structure traversing the enclosure formed by said end and side walls means for supporting said structure from the lower edges of said end walls, and means including at least two of said tie rods for overlying parts of an installed fixture to support the entire ornamental housing and light diffuser construction.

4. An ornamental housing and light diffuser for concealing and converting installed lighting fixtures of the fluorescent type, comprising a pair of widely spaced, substantially vertical end walls having inturned supporting flanges at their lower edges, a plurality of tie rods detachably connected at their outer ends with said end walls and arranged to be disposed in two series longitudinally at the sides of an installed lighting fixture, detachable side walls extending between said end walls and disposed outwardly of said tie rods and partially guided thereby, means at the lower edges of said end walls for supporting the lower edges of said side walls and a light diffusing structure traversing the bottom of said housing and supported on the inturned flanges of said end walls and supporting means for suspending the entire device from upper portions of an installed lighting fixture, said supporting means including the uppermost of said tie rods.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4 and at least, a pair of supporting hanger members adapted to overhang an installed lighting fixture and having connection at their outer ends with certain of said upper tie rods.

6. An ornamental housing and light diffuser for concealing and converting installed lighting fixtures of the fluorescent type, comprising a pair of widely spaced, substantially vertical end walls having inturned supporting flanges at their lower edges, a plurality of tie rods detachably connected at their outer ends with said end Walls and arranged to be disposed in two series longitudinally at the sides of an installed lighting fixture, detachable side walls extending between said end walls and disposed outwardly of said tie rods and partially guided thereby, means connected with said end walls and including hanger brackets for supporting said housing from the upper portion of an installed fixture and said tie rods having right angled extremities interfitting and looking with vertical sockets secured to said end walls.

EARL T. KOPPANG. HENRY WING KINTZINGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Num er Name Date 2,139,005 Doane Dec. 6, 1938 2,250,954 Hagerty et a1 July 29, 1941 2,281,379 Ohm Apr. 28, 1942 2,319,572 Wilson May 18, 1943 2,327,552 Poehling Aug. 24, 1943 2,331,774 Guth Oct. 12, 1943 2,411,952 Biller Dec. 3, 1946 2,427,084 Alderman Sept. 9. 1947 

